Tuscany & Umbria Walking Tour

Highlights

• begin your tour in Florence and end in Rome
• hunt for truffles with a trained hunting dog
• stay two nights in the lovely hilltop towns of Volterra and Orvieto
• learn about the mysterious Etruscan civilization
• see San Gimignano, the “city of the towers”
• dip your toes (or more!) into open-air thermal pools
• tour Siena with a local guide
• learn how to make traditional “bronze cut” Italian pasta
• see iconic landscapes of rolling wheat fields dotted with solitary cypress trees
• try some of the best local wines at a tasting lunch
• enjoy 3-4 easy walks in the countryside
• visit the town of Bolsena and its beautiful lake
• explore the hilltop town of Civita di Bagnoregio, that sits perched on a narrow pedestal of clay and tufa stone

ITINERARY

Days 1-2: Arrivals and visit of Florence 

Meet your group in Florence for a casual walk around the city followed by dinner together at one of our favorite restaurants. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and also the home base of Wild Sage, so we’d be happy to help you plan a few extra days. The following morning we’ll have a guided visit of the city so you can learn all about the Medici family, the birth of the Renaissance, and the stories behind some of the era’s most impressive art and architectural works. Transfer to Volterra on the afternoon of Day 2.

Days 2-3: Volterra & San Gimignano

Spend two nights in the charming hilltop town of Volterra, that was founded by the Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago. We have several fun activities, including a truffle hunt with a trained dog, and a day-trip to San Gimignano, whose Medieval towers used to rise up like a mini-Manhattan. We’ll have a lunch at a local producer of Vernaccia and Chianti wines, and of course have a tasting!

Days 4-5: Siena & the Val d’Orcia

Spend a day in the fascinating city of Siena, which rivaled Florence for 400 years to control local banking and trade. See the central square, the Piazza del Campo, which some consider to be the most beautiful in Italy. Learn about the horse race called “Il Palio,” where 10 jockeys ride bareback around the square to see which neighborhood claims glory. Tour the cathedral with a local guide and see how the inhabitants made it one of the most spectacular church interiors in Italy after their plans to expand the church were foiled by the Bubonic Plague. Continue from there to the Orcia valley, famous for its iconic scenery and photogenic rolling hills. We’ll visit the town of Pienza as well as the thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni.

Days 6-7: Orviteo and Umbria

We continue our journey southwest into Umbria, where we stay two nights in the historic town of Orvieto. Also founded by the Etruscans, Orvieto sits on a raised pedestal of rock and lords over the countryside below, especially from the gliterring facade of its cathedral. Tour the city and also the nearby town of Bolsena (on the banks of a lake of the same name) and Civita di Bagnoregio, which was nearly abandoned because of its precarious position on a bed of clay and volcanic stone but is now a charming little village.

Day 8: Departures from Rome

Transfer to Rome this morning and continue your adventure in The Eternal City or ask us to provide transport to the Fiumicino Airport for flights.

CONTACT US FOR A MORE DETAILED ITINERARY

If you like Tuscany, you might like our other itineraries: Classic Tuscany, From the Hills to the Sea, or an even more expanded Italian Highlights that includes the Cinque Terre!